Captive Prince

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your impression of Captive Prince? Did it make you want to read the full trilogy?

2. What was your favorite aspect of the book? This could be a character, like Damen or Laurent, or an event, like the moment Nicaise realizes that Laurent beat him.

3. Captive Prince is a dark romance with many fantasy elements. Did it remind you of other works you’ve read? Do you want to read more in this genre? Why or why not?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Captive Prince excels at conveying the perspective of a helpless character. How did you feel during the sections of the book where Damen is most frustrated by his helplessness? Did that sympathy carry over to Laurent as you discovered more about his situation? Why or why not?

2. One of the novel’s main themes concerns Betrayal and Deception as a Form of Warfare. Have you ever been betrayed or deceived by someone wanting to wield power over you? Do you think these tactics have a place in politics? Why or why not?

3. One of the most potent scenes in the text is the moment when Damen realizes that Laurent isn’t aroused, which is one way that Laurent rejects Damen’s advances. Have you ever experienced rejection or rejected someone else? How did this compare to Laurent’s rejection of Damen?

4. Though most of the novel takes place in Vere, Damen shares information about Akielos, Vask, and Patras. Do any of these societies reflect our own or societies in the past? If so, how?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The book provides interesting commentary on the nature of submission through the controversial medium of slavery. Was the use of slavery in the novel provocative? Was it a necessary element to emphasize the dynamics of the narrative?

2. In what era do you imagine this novel taking place? How does that time period influence your understanding of the more questionable trends in the book, like pederasty, slavery, or violence?

3. One of the novel’s that is particularly relevant in the modern day is The Dynamics of Power and Consent. How did Pacat handle this theme, and how did the novel’s exploration of it influence your understanding of consent in real life?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The novel ends on a cliffhanger, as Damen becomes a soldier and prepares to defend Laurent against both the Akielons and other Veretians. Does this ending successfully set up the sequel, or did you find it anticlimactic? Why or why not?

2. Laurent begins as an antagonist, but by the novel’s end, he’s almost a secondary protagonist alongside Damen. How did you feel about Laurent’s characterization? Did you sympathize with him, or did you feel that he was a villain throughout the novel?

3. One minor motif in the novel is Laurent’s tendency to repeat back the things that other people say, without inflection, almost as if to emphasize part of someone else’s point. Why does he do this? What effect might this repetition have in a real-life conversation?

4. In addition to the discussion of symbolism regarding Damen’s scars, they’re also a threat to his subterfuge as he tries to hide his true identity. What might happen if Damen’s identity were discovered? At the end of the novel, do you think Laurent trusts Damen enough to overcome his hatred of Damianos?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Think of the main characters of the novel: Damen, Laurent, the Regent, and Nicaise, or even minor characters, like Jord, Orlant, Govart, and Tilak. Who might play these characters in a live adaptation of the work? Looking at fan art and cover art of the series, do the characters look like you imagined them?

2. If you haven’t read Prince’s Gambit or Kings Rising, the sequels to Captive Prince, what do you think will happen next in the story? Will Laurent and Damen realize their feelings for each other? How will they get out of the Regent’s trap?

3. Imagine that you’re suddenly transported to Vere, either as a free citizen or as an enslaved servant like Damen. What would you do? How would you try to learn about the Veretians and their culture? Would you try to rise through the ranks at court or avoid people like Laurent and Nicaise?